June 2, 2009 - With House passage of this important legislation, we are one step closer to providing our nation’s schools with life-saving tools and training needed to respond effectively to children and adults who experience sudden cardiac arrest.  If every student and staff member learns how to perform CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED), we could prevent needless deaths in communities across the country.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States and communities with comprehensive AED programs have achieved survival rates of 40 percent or higher. The Josh Miller Helping Everyone Access Responsive Treatment in Schools (HEARTS) Act would enable elementary and secondary schools to purchase AEDs, train staff in CPR and AED use and make certain that they have an effective medical emergency response plan in place.

We applaud Representative Betty Sutton (D-OH) for her leadership on this issue. This bill has now progressed further in this Congress than ever before, and it is our hope that the full Senate will follow the House’s lead and pass this legislation as soon as possible.

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For more information, visit www.americanheart.org/joshmillerheartsact

Contact: Jackie Fuller 202-785-7933